Mound Elementary STEM Project Benefits Food Share of Ventura County

Students had to brainstorm ways to determine the number of boxes they wanted to use. Photo by Michael Gordon

Mound’s fifth-grade class traditionally leads an outreach project, in which they learn something about themselves while giving back to the community. The students are responsible for planning and following through with various tasks, including cost analysis, publicity, and coordination with larger organizations. Last year, students and staff were inspired by a video of an elementary school that created a “domino run” with cereal boxes. They decided to do their own version of a domino run, as it would allow students to have a STEM project, practice their leadership skills, and, most importantly, do something meaningful for their community–a perfect fit for their Science and Global Citizenship magnet.

Students had to brainstorm ways to determine the number of boxes they wanted to use and then decide what to do with all the boxes when the domino run was completed. They immediately thought of donating the boxes to Food Share of Ventura County. They reached out to a dietician to ask about the nutritional value of cereal, and subsequently decided their “dominos” should be more satiating and nutrient dense. They also thought a whole family could eat Mac ‘N’ Cheese. That is how the Mac ‘N’ Cheese domino run began.

This year’s students loved what last year’s students did and wanted to build on it, hoping they could reach even more families in need. Last year’s class raised 4,250 boxes, so the students set a goal of 5,000 this year. They surpassed the goal, ultimately raising over six thousand boxes. Groups of students presented their ideas to the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and asked for matching donations to help them reach their box goal. They then presented to other classes throughout the school, explaining what they were doing and why. They asked students in those other classes if they could bring in boxes that could be used for their project and then donated to Food Share. Students also created fliers and posters. The focus this year was learning how to publicize. This culminated in their second annual “Stuff the Trailer with Mac ‘N’ Cheese” drive. Students collected 3,521 boxes. PTO matched many of those boxes, helping students get to over 5,000. With even more boxes arriving daily, they reached over 6,000 boxes.

“Throughout this STEM and outreach project, 93 students will have worked together on math concepts such as volume, area, estimation, multiplication strategies, and grouping,” explained Tracie Fickenscher, fifth grade teacher at Mound Elementary. “Leadership, teamwork, and communication skills have all been used and refined. They’ve learned perseverance and grit, how to keep Mac ‘N’ Cheese from falling over, and how to regroup and revise strategies when it does. Most importantly, the kids are excited to take care of others in our community by providing satiating meals that kids enjoy eating.”

Portside Ventura Harbor Celebrates Milestones and Memorable Events

Portside Ventura Harbor celebrated a remarkable year in 2023, marked by significant milestones, community engagement, and memorable events that solidified its position as a vibrant hub in the Ventura area.

Portside Ventura Harbor celebrated their ribbon cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce, symbolizing the dawn of a new era for Portside Ventura Harbor. Two of its esteemed retail businesses, Harbor Mart and Crave Gelato Kofi Bar, also joined the celebrations in 2023 with their own ribbon cuttings.

Harbor Mart, a beloved local favorite, boasts an impressive array of offerings, including an extensive wine collection, global snacks, and a mouthwatering Mediterranean deli. Additionally, they provide last-minute items, sundries, and necessities, catering to the diverse needs
of their local patrons.

Meanwhile, Crave Gelato Kofi Bar emerged as a modern, artisanal haven, delighting patrons with house-made gelato crafted from organic, sustainable ingredients, complemented by delectable handmade focaccia and pastries. The harbor also saw the rise of Vision Ventura Electric Boat Rentals, which made waves with its eco-friendly electric boats, prominently featured in the Parade of Lights 2023 parade. Offering the perfect backdrop for memorable outings with friends and family, their rentals added a unique charm to the Ventura Harbor.

Throughout the year, Portside Ventura Harbor welcomed over 1000 guests at more than 20 events, showcasing its commitment to fostering
community spirit and engagement. From the Pink Party supporting the American Cancer Society to the Playhouse Build for Habitat for Humanity, and the monthly Movie Night Under the Stars, the harbor buzzed with excitement and camaraderie.

In addition to its remarkable retail and culinary offerings, Portside Ventura Harbor is also home to an array of incredible small businesses, enhancing the vibrant atmosphere of its beautiful Plaza. Residents and visitors alike can explore an eclectic mix of services and shops, including Nourished Nails, Live N Dye Hair Salon, Portside Yoga, Vasquez Float Reiki, Focus SUP Hawaii Ventura, Mystic Relics Crystals and Jewelry, Q Studios, Inner Soulstice Wellness Pilates, Art is Passion, Tail of Success, Ambitious Beauty Studio, Mind Body Spirit Studios, Heart Theory Inc., and more coming soon! Whether you’re in need of pampering, spiritual healing, fitness, or a unique shopping experience, the Plaza at Portside Ventura Harbor offers something for everyone.

As 2024 unfolds, Portside Ventura Harbor continues its legacy of growth and innovation. The addition of NeuroBoxing, an organization dedicated to non-contact boxing exercises, further enriches the community’s offerings.

Looking ahead, Portside Ventura Harbor is gearing up for the Egg Hunt Festival on Saturday, March 30th, and is already collaborating with Habitat for Humanity for an expanded and enhanced Playhouse Build event on Saturday, August 24th.

With 2023 setting a high bar for success, Portside Ventura Harbor eagerly anticipates the opportunities and achievements that lie ahead in 2024. Stay tuned for another year of excitement, growth, and community at Portside Ventura Harbor.

Autumn Wassel | Lifestyle Director

Portside Events

VenturaWaterPure Project Update

Currently, significant progress is being made on the milestones of the project.

by Patricia Schallert

The main outfall pipe from Marina Park is now installed underneath the Ventura Harbor and also installed out to sea (about 4,500 feet offshore), though there is still a lot more to do from now until Memorial Day. Trenching has already begun on Anchors Way from the Water’s Edge restaurant area.

However, there is still work to be done to finalize connections at Marina Park, which is expected to be completed by Memorial Day. Trenching has commenced on Anchors Way, starting from the Water’s Edge restaurant area. The trenching process is led by Blois Construction, who are responsible for installing the outfall pipe on Anchors Way, Schooner Drive, then on Harbor Blvd.

The pipe segments will be fused/welded together in 500-ft long sections along the street. Construction progresses in 500-feet increments, with each 500-foot segment taking several days to dig and shore up. Once the pipe is pulled into place, it is welded at the far end, connecting it to the already installed pipeline. Then, the trench is backfilled and paved. This process will be repeated several times on Anchors Way, and again on Schooner, with each 500-foot section taking approximately two to three weeks for completion.

According to Steve Mimiaga, the City’s construction manager, two 500-foot sections will be worked on along the eastbound (outbound) side of Schooner Dr., with an expected completion date of late April to early May. Then, trenching will begin on the southbound side of Harbor Blvd, close to the median, continuing under Spinnaker Dr. then turning into the City’s water reclamation facility (VWRF) about 800 ft south of the Spinnaker intersection. Throughout this process, traffic will remain open, although occasional and temporary lane closures may occur with the guidance of flagmen.

Construction is currently progressing according to the planned timeline, and it is anticipated that work in Marina Park will be completed before the Memorial Day weekend. The 24-foot tall soundwall within Marina Park is anticipated to be dismantled in March and replaced by contractor fencing. The area will be restored to its original appearance, with new mounds, grass, and an underground irrigation system completed, all scheduled to hopefully wrap up by Memorial Day weekend.

Learn more at the project website at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/OceanOutfall

Hotline for questions 805-500-8103

The Ventura Gem Show is the society’s major fund-raising event

The Ventura Gem Show has been a fun family event for six decades.

The Ventura Gem Show is taking place March 2 & 3 (10am–5pm, Saturday; 10am–4pm, Sunday) at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura). The show is open to the public and admission is free (note: the Fairgrounds charges a parking fee if using the Fairgrounds lot).

The Ventura Gem Show has been a fun family event for six decades and counting with its focus on gemstone cutting and jewelry-making, rocks and fossils, and kids and education. At the show, we’ll announce the recipient of our $1,000 Scholarship Award given annually to a local college student. Upon entering the show, kids are given a free polished stone at our Welcome Booth, where teachers receive free rock samples and educational packets. At the Kids Booth, children enjoy activities offering an assortment of rocky prizes. A nearby display provides info about the society’s two-room museum in Ojai, where teachers, home-schoolers, and youth groups can arrange tours by appointment.

There’s gold in the California hills, and you can learn how to pan for it at the show. At one booth, expert prospectors will guide you through the basics, and you can purchase “pay dirt” to pan for real gold nuggets and flakes at the show or in your own backyard. In addition, this free show will feature displays of gems, minerals, fossils, and award-winning handcrafted jewelry. These include educational exhibits of fossils collected locally in and around Ventura County, as well as a display of our State Rock, Mineral, Fossil, and Gemstone (including a gold nugget, an Ice Age saber-tooth cat, and “Auggie”, the California State Dinosaur). Still other displays will show how stones collected locally have been crafted into jewelry. Demonstrations give visitors up-close looks at artists pursuing their crafts: gemstone cutting and carving, silver work and jewelry making, beading, and other arts and crafts made from nature. Raffle prizes include a $100 bill, fine jewelry, mineral and fossil specimens, and more. In addition, enjoy hourly silent auctions for rocks, minerals, and fossils, as well as a “Country Store” white elephant sale, a plant sale, and over 15 dealers selling beads, opals, jade, gemstones, crystals, fossils, jewelry and jewelry-making supplies, and gift items. It’s a 61-year Ventura tradition the whole family will enjoy.

VGMS was founded in 1944 to encourage interest in rocks, minerals, fossils, lapidary arts and jewelry-making, and related areas through education, activities, and exhibitions such as this annual show, which is open to the community. The society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization and welcomes individual and family members. VGMS hosts monthly talks on earth science topics and jewelry arts, maintains a lapidary arts studio in Ojai, makes presentations to area schools, and conducts field trips for members and guests to collect rocks, minerals, and fossils in southern California and neighboring states.

The Ventura Gem Show is the society’s major fund-raising event helping to underwrite educational activities, including the annual college scholarship and school visits and donations. For further details, call (805) 312-8467, email [email protected], or visit our web site at www.vgms.org.

First Ventura homicide of 2024

The Ventura Police Department received reports of shots fired around 2 a.m. Sunday, February 11, near Oak and Main streets.

Officers arrived to find a man with gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to Ventura County Medical Center where he later died. He was Anthony Castanon, 20, of Santa Paula.

Two other males a 24-year-old from Oxnard and a 17-year-old from Santa Paula went on their own to Community Memorial Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds, investigation stated the incidents were related.

Officers were notified there were additional parties with gunshot wounds that were dropped off at the Community Memorial Hospital Emergency Room (CMH). Officers contacted Jordan Lee and an additional male juvenile with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Both parties were later transported to VCMC and remain in critical but stable condition. At this time, this investigation is ongoing, and investigators believe this incident may be gang related.

A juvenile, Santa Paula Resident Male Juvenile (17 ), has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Castanon.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Alberto Tovar at 805- 339-4462.

Turning Point Foundation receives HUD awards

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced nearly $3.16 billion in Continuum of Care program awards for over 7,000 projects that provide housing assistance and/or supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, as well as costs related to planning and data collection. HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge made the announcement today with the Chatham-Savannah Interagency Council on Homelessness in Savannah, Georgia. The Chatham-Savannah Continuum of Care was awarded $4,104,782.

“Now, more than ever, we are doing all we can to get people off the street and into permanent homes with access to services. That is why we are making sure the service providers on the frontlines of this crisis have the resources they need,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “At HUD, we have served or permanently housed 1.2 million people experiencing homelessness in the last three years alone, building on President Biden’s efforts to keep Americans housed. The historic awards we are announcing today will expand community capacity to assist more people in obtaining the safety and stability of a home, along with the supports they need to achieve their life goals.”

When HUD announced the availability of these grants, the agency encouraged communities to use proven solutions to address homelessness, such as approaches that first connect people to housing, often with supportive services, rather than requiring people experiencing homelessness to first complete a treatment program or achieve sobriety as a condition to accessing housing. HUD also expanded the Continuum of Care program’s eligible activities to support protections available through the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 and to address the unique challenges Continuums of Care face when serving people experiencing homelessness in rural areas. The new eligible activities will allow for greater support for underserved populations.

HUD remains committed to policy priorities of ending homelessness for all persons, placing emphasis on racial equity and anti-discrimination policies for LGTBQ+ individuals, engaging persons with lived experiences of homelessness in decision-making, and increasing the supply of affordable housing.

Turning Point Foundation Our Place Safe Haven 2023 $168,977
Turning Point Foundation Rapid Re-Housing 2023 $172,132
Turning Point Foundation Stephenson Place Permanent Housing 2023 $37,905
Turning Point Foundation Wooley House I Permanent Housing 2023 $46,726
Turning Point Foundation Wooley House II Permanent Housing 2023 $39,857

“The British are coming! The British are coming!”

On March 23, at 1pm, Ventura “historian” and author Ivor Davis will introduce his new 60th anniversary “Beatles and Me On Tour” book—and promises to reveal all– despite the consequences. The true story behind the story.

Sixty years ago an unlikely quartet from England—Liverpool to be precise—invaded America—and conquered the nation in what turned out to be a bloodless revolution.

We are talking, of course, about 1964, the historic year that John Paul George and Ringo showed up in America—and without spilling a drop of blood were triumphant as they re-wrote rock and roll history. And in doing so, thousands of young women—from sea to shining sea– fell at their feet as the Beatles offered to hold their hand!

Ivor Davis had an exclusive front row seat as this invasion exploded. Embedded with the raiders, he will reveal behind the scenes details of this astonishing coup at Portside Ventura Harbor located at 1196 Portside and Schooner Dr. His presentation is free.

How the USA surrendered to these four lads from Britain, without a single shot being fired!

Breeze publisher Sheldon will be the moderator for the presentation and would love to have you attend. There will be a Q&A after.

A Night to Remember

Mission Church is hosting the ninth annual A Night to Remember, a free prom for students with disabilities, to be held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds Friday, March 8th beginning at 6:30 p.m. Night to Remember was started in 2012 and after a brief pause during the Covid pandemic is finally back!

“There is nothing quite like this night and experience for both our guests and volunteers. It’s like a picture of heaven on earth,” explained Mike Hickerson, Lead Pastor at Mission Church. “When everyone is out on the dance floor together, we all recognize that we’re not that different from each other, and it just feels like something is right in the world.”

The night includes dresses and tuxedos, hairstyling, makeup and corsages or boutonnieres, limo rides and a walk down a red carpet cheered on by paparazzi. Each guest is accompanied by a student host from the community, given a formal photo, special food and treats and a night of dancing with a professional DJ.

“This event is not just a special night, but a night that has impacted our community all year long; we have watched our guests make friends with other students in their high schools and continue those friendships for years to come,” said Taylor Hunt, NTR’s Event Director. “It’s amazing what can happen when a community gathers to celebrate people who are often overlooked and under celebrated. We are so excited to bring Night to Remember back!”

Vol. 17, No. 11 – Feb 21 – Mar 5, 2024 – Cartoons

Vern Stewart: Living Life On His Own Terms

“A diagnosis is not the end,” says Stewart.

by Mira Reverente

Vern Stewart is used to the dizzying twists and turns of life.

He majored in art but ended up working as a fund manager, catering to over 400 investors and making multi-million dollar deals. He spent a majority of his career working in the Bay Area but he’s now living in Ventura.

He was working out five to six times a week when he received his Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis 10 years ago and his life came to a brief halt, at the age of 62.

Determined to overcome and continue living life on his terms, he immersed himself in countless doctors’ appointments, physical therapy and endless research.

“A diagnosis is not the end,” says Stewart, 72. “Some medical professionals deliver the diagnosis and think maybe that their work is done and that’s it because they haven’t found a cure for it.”

One of his first questions to his neurologist was “Will I live 10 to 15 more years?” The answer was a resounding “yes” and since then he has vowed to live life to the fullest, stopped seeking money as a reward and focused on friendships and family, which includes two adult children.

There are medications, surgery, clinical trials, support groups, classes and lifestyle modifications one can do in dealing with PD. The symptoms are so diverse but with a good support system and medical team, one can find medications and treatment that can work for them. Stewart underwent surgery called deep brain stimulation (DBS) where electrodes were implanted in his brain to reduce debilitating movement symptoms of PD.

Among the lifestyle modifications that Stewart undertook was a plant-based diet and taking supplements. “I cook more now. It’s just one more thing I can control – what I put in my body,” he says. A physical therapist also helped him re-train his body and re-learn everyday tasks like bathing and walking.

Before a femur injury he was also pedaling away on his e-bike. He also learned how to paddle board to work on his balance, to take advantage of one of the many offerings of his waterfront community. “My instructor was the sweetest thing but she was a bit hesitant to teach me given my condition but I persevered,” he says. He supplemented the lessons by immersing himself in YouTube videos and learning everything there is to know about paddle boarding.

He also signed up for boxing classes in his community called Neuroboxing Fight Camp, a program geared towards people overcoming PD and other neurological diseases. He finds the camaraderie and the positivity in class contagious and invigorating. He explains, “Other people’s stories inspire me and I hope mine does the same thing for them.”

He also enjoys the solitude that living in a coastal town can sometimes bring. “You have to be at peace with solitude,” Stewart says of his current state of mind. “I read a lot and spend a lot of time in the kitchen.”

The power of solitude as espoused by Buddha and John Muir, propels Stewart on most days, as well as the need for self-reliance. He wants to reach more people and encourage them through their Parkinson’s journey. “It is so tempting to shut yourself out and withdraw from your social circles, but there is help out there,” he says.

*Vern can be reached by email: [email protected]. He lives at Portside Ventura Harbor where Neuroboxing is located so walks to the sessions.

Editor: If you are a senior (over 70-years), or know of one, who would like to share their retirement, or job, with us please let us know at [email protected].

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